A cloud of somberness hung over the funeral today of a police officer killed
in a traffic collision with an alleged drunken driver.

Several hundred law enforcement officers were there to say goodbye to
Officer Karl McDonough, 41.

Among those who attended the Mass were officers from the El Paso Police
Department, El Paso County Sheriff's Office, Texas Department of Public
Safety, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Las Cruces Police
Department.

The officers were part of a procession that included about 75 police
motorcycles and 70 police cars. They followed a white hearse and white
limousine from Martin Funeral Home to St. Mark's Catholic
Church, 11700 Pebble Hills.

A huge American flag waved high above the church from the raised ladder of a
firetruck.

The officers donned their dress uniforms and gathered in formation around the casket of McDonough about 2 p.m. at Fort Bliss National Cemetery. Some of them shed tears as police chaplain Robert Ortega prayed for McDonough to rest in peace and 15 white doves were released.

McDonough was killed about 1 a.m. Oct. 13 at an intersection in East El Paso when Alejandro Fierro, 19, allegedly ran a red light in his silver 2004 Mercedes and hit the patrol car McDonough was traveling in, police said.

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Fierro was arrested on suspicion of intoxicated manslaughter causing the death of a police officer, and intoxicated assault causing severe bodily injury to a police officer.

The patrol car's driver, Officer Ricardo Lopez, 39, was severely injured during the crash. The officers were en route to a non-priority call when Fierro's vehicle collided with their vehicle, officials said.

Lopez walked at McDonough's funeral even though he had a broken pelvis. He used a black cane to balance himself as he wobbled past the crowd of officers and toward the casket.

McDonough and Lopez were both four-year veterans of the El Paso police department. The length of time that the two were partners was unavailable.

McDonough was buried at Fort Bliss National Cemetary because he was a veteran. McDonough was a specialist in the Army from 1987 to 1995 and served in the Persian Gulf, officials said.